Robert John Knight sentenced in Toowoomba District Court for armed robbery of 55-year-old man

‘I’ll put a cap in your knee’: A Toowoomba man who pulled a gun on a vulnerable man who was collecting recyclables in the Toowoomba CBD, likely robbing him of his last $10, may be released from jail.

Robert John Knight has been sentenced in Toowoomba District Court for the armed robbery of a man who was collecting cans in the Toowoomba CBD. Picture: Dan Peled / NewsWire

A Toowoomba man who robbed a vulnerable person at gunpoint outside of Grand Central Shopping Centre in 2023 can now apply for parole after pleading guilty to the crime.

Robert John Knight fronted Toowoomba District Court on February 5, and pleaded guilty to a charge of armed robbery while armed with a weapon.

The court was told that on July 7, 2023, Knight had been riding a bicycle around Toowoomba with a silver handgun down his pants, when he approached a 55-year-old man from behind.

The “vulnerable” man, who was living in temporary accommodation, had been collecting cans and bottles around the Toowoomba CBD late that night.

The court was told the then 45-year-old first asked if the man had any cannabis, and after he said no, Knight pulled out the gun, pointed at the man, and pulled back the slide.

The man heard a click, and Knight threatened to shoot him if he didn’t empty his pockets and hand over everything he had.

“If you don’t co-operate, I’ll put a cap in your knee,” the court was told he demanded.

He then robbed the man of $10.

Judge John Allen KC said Knight was no “Robin Hood” and the small amount of money stolen was probably all the man had.

The firearm was never recovered.

The court was told Knight had an extensive criminal history in Queensland and NSW, which included violence and robbery offences.

In 2022, the court was told the long-time addict and mental health patient was convicted of a serious animal cruelty charge where he injured an animal in a domestic violence setting.

A Toowoomba judge sentenced Knight to a two-and-a-half-year jail term for the offence, with release after serving 10 months.

However, Knight was again locked up for perverting the course of justice while in jail, as he called his ex-partner more than 400 times in an attempt to get her to drop the animal cruelty charge and lie to the prosecution.

Despite committing the crime in jail, the court was told he was not charged until his release.

Following his recent stints in jail, the court was told Knight’s drug addiction had intensified, however he was responding well to his new opioid replacement treatment.

During sentencing Judge Allen noted Knight, who had a very prejudicial upbringing, had entered an early guilty plea which was a significant mitigating factor of his sentence, allowing him to apply for release on parole.

He sentenced Knight to a five-year jail term and declared the 603 days he spent in custody as time served.

Originally published as Robert John Knight sentenced in Toowoomba District Court for armed robbery of 55-year-old man